Belal Halbouni Explained

Belal Halbouni
Birth Date:December 29, 1999
Birth Place:London, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.88 m
Position:Centre back
Currentclub:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Clubnumber:12
Youthclubs1:North London SC
Collegeyears1:2018
College1:Western Mustangs
Collegecaps1:16
Collegegoals1:2
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:FC London
Caps1:28
Goals1:3
Years2:2020–2022
Clubs2:Werder Bremen II
Caps2:28
Goals2:3
Years3:2022–2024
Clubs3:1. FC Magdeburg II
Caps3:8
Goals3:1
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Whitecaps FC 2 (loan)
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:Syria
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:April 22, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:23 September 2022

Belal Halbouni (Arabic: بِلَال حَلبُونِيّ ; born December 29, 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Born in Canada, he plays for the Syria national team.

Early life

Halbouni began playing football at age four, joining North London SC at age eight.

University career

In 2018, he attended the University of Western Ontario, where he played for the men's soccer team.[1] He scored his first goal on September 29 against the Algoma Thunderbirds.[2] After one season, he decided to leave school to pursue professional soccer.[3]

Club career

From 2017 to 2019, he played with FC London in League1 Ontario.[4] [5] [6] He scored his first goal on October 6, 2017 against ProStars FC.[7] In 2019, he was converted from an attacker to centre-back.[8]

In January 2020, he signed a contract with Werder Bremen II of the Regionalliga Nord, the reserve side of Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.[9] He made his debut on February 21, 2020 against HSC Hannover.[10] In June 2021, he extended his contract with the side.[11] During the 2021-22 season, he began serving as the captain of the reserve side.[12] While with the club, he also trained with the first team.[13] In January 2022, Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC had been interested in signing him on a loan deal, however, that deal failed to materialize as the two clubs could not agree on terms.[14] In total, he made 28 appearances for Werder II, scoring three goals and adding two assists.[15] His contract expired after the 2021–22 season and he chose to depart the club, despite an offer to join the first team, as Werder wanted to send him out on loan.[16]

On June 1, 2022, Halbouni signed with newly promoted 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Magdeburg on a three-year contract.[17] After appearing as an unused substitute in two league matches with the first team, he then joined the second team in the sixth tier Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt,[18] [19] making his debut on August 19 against MSC Preussen.[20] However, his first season with the club was cut short, following an injury during national team duty, requiring a nine-month recovery period.[21] Upon return from his injury, he was again sent to play with the second team.[22] In January 2024, he was left out of the first team squad for the second half of the season,[23] and went on trial with Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[24] [25]

On February 5, 2024, he signed a two-year contract with the Whitecaps through 2025, with a one-year extension option for 2026.[26]

International career

Halbouni is eligible to represent Canada, Lebanon (where his mother was born), and Syria (where his father was born) internationally.[27]

In January 2021, Halbouni received his first Canada national team call-up for a camp in Florida.[28]

In September 2022, Halbouni accepted a call-up with Syria for two friendlies at the 2022 Jordan International Tournament.[29] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 loss against Jordan on 23 September 2022, but tore his ACL during the match.[30] [31]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC London2017League1 Ontario6161
2018League1 Ontario10200102
2019League1 Ontario12050170
Total283500000333
Werder Bremen II2019–20Regionalliga Nord1010
2020–21Regionalliga Nord4040
2021–22Regionalliga Nord233233
Total283000000283
1. FC Magdeburg II2022–23Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt5050
2023–24[32] NOFV-Oberliga Süd3131
Total8100000081
Career total647500000697

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Belal Halbouni Western profile. Western Mustangs.
  2. Web site: Mustangs earn blowout win over Thunderbirds. David. Stol. September 29, 2018. Western Mustangs.
  3. Web site: Londoner gets a chance to realize childhood dream with German soccer league signing. Ryan. Pyette. February 3, 2020. The London Free Press.
  4. Web site: Belal Halbouni 2017 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  5. Web site: Belal Halbouni 2018 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  6. Web site: Belal Halbouni 2019 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  7. Web site: Match Recap: FC London 7 - 1 Pro Stars. October 9, 2017. League1 Ontario.
  8. Web site: From L1O to 2. Bundesliga, Belal Halbouni has eyes on CanMNT World Cup spot. June 19, 2022. OneSoccer. Alexandre. Gangué-Ruzic.
  9. Web site: Halbouni wechselt zur U23. Halbouni moves to U23. de. SV Werder Bremen. January 30, 2020.
  10. Web site: 1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Belal Halbouni. 1. FC Magdeburg signs Belal Halbouni. de. June 1, 2022. 1. FC Magdeburg.
  11. Web site: Werder hält Belal Halbouni. Werder hold Belal Halbouni. June 28, 2021. SV Werder Bremen. de.
  12. Web site: "Zweikampfstarker Innenverteidiger": Magdeburg verpflichtet Halbouni. "Strong central defender": Magdeburg signs Halbouni. June 1, 2022. de. Kicker.
  13. Web site: Kanadier verläst Werders U23: Aufsteiger 1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Werder-talent Belal Halbouni: "Trauen ihm schritt in die 2. Liga zu". Canadian leaves Werder's U23: Newly promoted 1. FC Magdeburg sign Werder talent Belal Halbouni: “We believe he can step into the 2nd division”. de. June 3, 2022. Fehmarn24. Marius. Winkelmann.
  14. Web site: Belal Halbouni: "I have been a fighter my entire life" - Magdeburg "the right move for me". July 8, 2022. Transfermarkt. Manuel. Veth.
  15. Web site: Erster Neuzugang: FCM holt Werder-Talent Belal Halbouni. First newcomer: FCM brings Werder talent Belal Halbouni. de. June 1, 2022. Liga 2 Online. Julian. Koch.
  16. Web site: Werder wollte Halbouni zum Profi machen: "Gab viele Variablen, die mir nicht gefielen". de. Werder wanted to make Halbouni a professional: "There were a lot of variables that I didn't like". Manuel. Veth. July 9, 2022. Transfermarkt.
  17. Web site: Erster Neuzugang bei Zweitliga-Aufsteiger 1. FC Magdeburg. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. First new signing at second division promoted 1. FC Magdeburg. de. June 1, 2022.
  18. Web site: 1. FC Magdeburg - Belal Halbouni fällt mit Kreuzbandriss lange aus. 1. FC Magdeburg – Belal Halbouni is out for a long time with a cruciate ligament tear. de. September 26, 2022. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk.
  19. Web site: Bei Länderspieldebüt: FCM-Verteidiger Belal Halbouni verletzt. de. In international debut: FCM defender Belal Halbouni injured. September 25, 2022. Liga 2 Online. Nicolas. Bartsch.
  20. Web site: "Sie gehören von der individuellen Qualität gar nicht in diese Liga". "In terms of individual quality, they don't belong in this league at all". August 22, 2022. de. Kevin. Gehring. FuPa.
  21. Web site: أول تعليق لحلبوني على إصابته بالصليبي. Halbouni's first comment on his cross injury. سوريا - أمير الخرباوي (Al-Kharbawi, Amir). ar. September 26, 2022. Kooora.
  22. Web site: Belal Halbouni verlässt den 1. Fc Magdeburg. Belal Halbouni is leaving 1. FC Magdeburg. 1. FC Magdeburg. February 5, 2024. de.
  23. Web site: FCM: Abwehr-Duo Cacutalua und Halbouni ausgemustert. Florian. Manzke. January 4, 2024. de. FCM: Defensive duo Cacutalua and Halbouni retired. Liga2 Online.
  24. Web site: Magdeburg: Halbouni spielt bei Vancouver vor. Florian. Manzke. 12 January 2024. de. Magdeburg: Halbouni is auditioning for Vancouver. Liga2 Online.
  25. Web site: Halbouni vor Wechsel nach Vancouver. Halbouni before moving to Vancouver. de. January 12, 2024. Kicker.
  26. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign Canadian defender Belal Halbouni. 5 February 2024. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  27. بلال حلبوني مدافع فيردر بريمن المرشح للانضمام إلى منتخب سوريا بطلب من تيتا - مقابلة مع ميشيل سعد. December 25, 2021. Bilal Halbouni, Werder Bremen defender, who is nominated to join the Syrian national team at the request of Tita - Interview with Michel Saad. Michel. Saad. YouTube.
  28. Web site: Canada men's soccer set for 1st action in over a year with scrimmage against U.S.. January 21, 2021. CBC Sports. Neil. Davidson.
  29. Web site: FCM: Diese Neuzugänge stellten sich den Start im Club ganz anders vor. FCM: These newcomers had a completely different idea of starting at the club. de. September 22, 2022. Yannik. Sammert. Volksstimme.
  30. Web site: Belal Halbouni verletzt sich bei Länderspiel-Debüt schwer und fällt lange aus. Belal Halbouni is seriously injured in his international debut and is out for a long time. de. September 26, 2022. Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.
  31. Web site: طبيب سوريا يكشف تفاصيل إصابة حلبوني أمام الأردن. A Syrian doctor reveals the details of Halbouni's injury in front of Jordan. سوريا - أمير الخرباوي (Al-Kharbawi, Amir). Kooora. ar.
  32. Web site: Belal Halbouni statsistics. WorldFootball.